The Pig Nosed Turtle is Real! Here’s Everything About this Species

The Pig Nosed Turtle (Carettochelys insculpta) is an incredible-looking turtle that is sadly endangered. Sometimes people refer to it as the Fly River Turtle, because of its main habitat the Fly River in Papua New Guinea.

This species often receives attention because of its funny look, it definitely entices curiosity. It is normal to look at it and wonder “Is this animal real or is this photo photoshopped?” (Hint: it is real), “Where is this animal from?”, “How many pig nosed turtles are out there in the world?”. In this blog post, we will answer all of those questions and more. We bring you a full picture of this amazing animal, both literally and figuratively (Ba dum tss).

Jump links

• Where Does the Pig nosed Turtle Live? (Geographic range)
• What Does the Pig nosed Turtle Look Like? (Physical Appearance)
• What Does the Pig nosed Turtle Eat? (Diet)
• Are Pig nosed Turtles Dangerous? (Behavior)
• How Many Pig nosed Turtles Are Left? (Conservation status)
• Why are Pig nosed Turtles Endangered? (Threats)
• Conservation Efforts to Save the Pig nosed turtle

In this blog, we try to bring animals closer to humans so that humans, by learning about how incredible they are, can become closer to animals. Therefore, we want to thank you for having the curiosity that led you here, and we encourage you to keep asking questions about every species that ever crosses your path. By receiving the answer to those questions, you will get to open your eyes more and more to the wonders that hold this earth’s biodiversity, and begin to understand in an organic way why we can’t have a sustainable future on this planet without preserving it.

You can find the answers to frequently asked questions regarding animals in our Animal FAQ section. Also, you can get to know more unpopular but highly important endangered species in our Endangered Animals section. Here are some of the posts there:

• Why Do Flamingos Lose Their Pink? and Why They May Go Extinct
• How Do Birds Mate? [with video]
• Why are animals red? The Surprising Reason
• Can fish drown? well, yes and no
• The Mountain Chicken is Actually a Frog, and It’s Endangered.
• Blue Racer Snake (Coluber constrictor foxii): Canada’s Rarest

Now, onto the Pig Nosed Turtle!

Where Does the Pig Nosed Turtle Live?

Geographic Range

The Pig nosed turtle (Carettochelys insculpta), earns one of its names from the rivers of Papua New Guinea, particularly the Fly River. However, its geographic range encompasses regions such as lowland Papua New Guinea, northern Australia, and southern Indonesia.

These turtles prefer warm tropical rivers, streams, lakes, and lagoons with soft bottoms and slow currents, often venturing into water up to 7 meters deep. They are predominantly aquatic, spending the majority of their time submerged and only venturing onto land for nesting purposes.

What Does the Pig Nosed Turtle Look Like?

Physical Appearance

The Pig nosed turtle has a unique appearance characterized by a nose that resembles that of a pig, certainly, that’s what sets them apart. This adaptation serves dual purposes: facilitating surface breathing while submerged and acting as a sensory organ for food detection.

The rest of its body is quite standard, it has a gray body with a white underside, giving it an almost translucent quality in juveniles. Its carapace and plastron resemble those of soft-shelled turtles. With flipper-shaped forelimbs and webbed hind legs, these turtles navigate their aquatic habitat akin to sea turtles. They have strong jaws and muscular attachments that give them an outstanding bite, complemented by forelimb claws for tearing food apart.

What Does the Pig Nosed Turtle Eat?

Diet

Pig nosed turtles are omnivores, but they mainly eat a plant-based diet. They forage on overhanging fruits and nuts in coastal waters and consume a variety of aquatic plant parts. Additionally, they supplement their diet with small prey such as snails, insects, shrimp, and small fish. Newly hatched turtles sustain themselves on yolk reserves before transitioning to hunting small prey until they mature.

Are Pig Nosed Turtles Dangerous?

Behavior

Pig nosed turtles are not inherently dangerous to humans. They face threats primarily from habitat loss and human exploitation rather than posing risks themselves. Having said that, they do have defensive adaptations that could be scary for humans. For example, they have strong forelegs often used to evade predators like crocodiles.

How Many Pig Nosed Turtles Are Left?

Conservation Status

Sadly, Pig nosed turtles face a tough situation in the wild. Their conservation status falls under the category of Endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List. Despite varied estimates of population sizes, ranging from low density to abundance, the overall trend is a decline.

While the best data we could find regarding Pig Nosed Turtle population density is dated, it still provides valuable context about the ongoing challenges facing Pig-nosed turtles in the wild.

For instance, back in 1989, the population densities of Carettochelys insculpta were estimated, to be approximately 67 turtles on average living within each kilometer of the waterway in certain Australian habitats. However, it’s important to consider that these estimates may have been affected by seasonal fluctuations in habitat, possibly inflating the numbers.

While populations in northern Australia, comprising approximately 10% of the global total, were relatively stable in 2009, those in New Guinea which account for about 90% of global populations, faced significant threats, particularly in Indonesian Papua. Furthermore, there was a reported decline of around 57% in the Kikori delta of Papua New Guinea over 30 years from 1980 to 2010, a trend likely mirrored in other regions of Papua New Guinea.

Why Are Pig Nosed Turtles Endangered?

Threats

The decline in Pig-nosed turtle populations stems from a combination of factors. Human consumption, habitat degradation, and unsustainable exploitation for the pet trade have pushed these turtles to the brink of extinction. With populations decreasing and threats persisting, urgent conservation efforts are imperative to prevent further decline and ensure their survival.

Exploitation and Consumption

Pig-nosed turtles face significant pressure due to their value as both food and commodities. Indigenous communities across their range highly prize adult turtles and their eggs as a food source. This demand, coupled with exploitation for local consumption, particularly in Papua New Guinea and Indonesian Papua, poses a severe threat to their populations. Studies have shown that a staggering 92% of nests can be lost to a combination of flooding and human egg collection. In addition, in Indonesian Papua, eggs are harvested for controlled local incubation and subsequent sale of hatchlings in the international pet trade.

Biologists anticipate that the impact of human consumption on Pig-nosed turtle populations will escalate with human population growth and migration near turtle habitats. Notably, Pig-nosed turtles rank as the species with the second-largest number of seized live specimens among all tortoises and freshwater turtles worldwide.

Habitat Degradation

The integrity of Pig-nosed turtle habitats, particularly in Australia, faces significant threats from habitat degradation. This includes water extraction for agricultural purposes, pollution from mining activities, sedimentation, changes in water quality, and river fragmentation. In the Alligators Rivers region of Australia, feral Water Buffalo have posed significant problems by trampling nests and damaging riparian vegetation.

Conservation Efforts to Save the Pig-Nosed Turtle

Efforts to safeguard Pig-nosed turtles include monitoring programs, protected areas, and community engagement initiatives. Measures such as trade regulations and habitat protection aim to mitigate threats and promote sustainable coexistence.

Regulatory Measures and Protection

Conservation actions for Pig-nosed turtles have been reinforced through a series of regulatory measures and protective legislations:

• International Protection: The inclusion of Carettochelys insculpta in the IUCN Red List and its listing in CITES Appendix II signify global recognition of the species conservation status and the need for international cooperation in its protection.
• National Legislation: Within Australia, Pig-nosed turtles receive legal protection under the National Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act 1975, safeguarding their habitats in renowned reserves like Kakadu National Park. Similar protective measures are in place in the Northern Territory under the Territory Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act 1982.
• Export Controls: The export of Pig-nosed turtles from Papua New Guinea is strictly regulated to prevent overexploitation. However, challenges remain in enforcing these regulations effectively.

Habitat Conservation and Restoration

Preserving and restoring essential habitat areas is fundamental to the conservation of Pig-nosed turtles:

• Protected Areas: Significant subpopulations of Pig-nosed turtles have been identified in key conservation areas such as Kakadu National Park and Flora River Nature Park. These protected areas serve as vital refuges for the species, providing essential nesting and foraging grounds.
• Priority Conservation Areas: Efforts are underway to identify and prioritize conservation areas for Pig-nosed turtles. With particular focus on regions like the Kikori Region of Papua New Guinea. Initiatives such as the Piku Project aim to monitor, protect, and raise awareness about Pig-nosed turtles in priority areas, engaging local communities and authorities in conservation efforts.

Community Engagement and Awareness

Engaging with local communities and raising awareness about the importance of Pig-nosed turtle conservation is integral to fostering sustainable coexistence:

• Education and Outreach: Community engagement programs led by conservation organizations and local authorities play a crucial role in promoting awareness and understanding of Pig-nosed turtles and their habitats. These initiatives involve educational workshops, school programs, and outreach events to empower communities to better care for their natural heritage.
• Collaborative Conservation: Collaborative partnerships between conservation organizations, government agencies, and indigenous communities are key to the success of conservation efforts. By working together, stakeholders can develop and implement effective management strategies that address the unique socio-economic and cultural contexts of Pig-nosed turtle habitats.

Research and Monitoring

Continuous research and monitoring are vital for informing conservation actions and adapting strategies to changing environmental conditions:

• Population Surveys: Further population status surveys are needed across key parts of the Pig-nosed turtle’s range to assess population trends and distribution patterns. These surveys provide valuable data for conservation planning and management.

Conclusion

The pig nosed turtle is an interesting species. We know you probably came to this post curious because of its looks, but we want to take this opportunity to let you know that this species is important.

As the last member of the Carettochelyidae family, the Pig-nosed turtle holds significant ecological and cultural importance. Its conservation safeguards a unique species and protects the integrity of freshwater ecosystems. As a flagship species, the Pig-nosed turtle can catalyze broader conservation initiatives. Especially those aimed at preserving biodiversity and ensuring the well-being of freshwater environments worldwide.

We hope you were able to learn a lot through this post. Next time you are at a party, whip out a photo of a pig nose turtle and take a moment to share with others some things you’ve learned about this amazing species that is sadly endangered. Awareness is the first step in wildlife conservation.

Thank you, once again, for your curiosity.